Celebrating Smiles: Children’s Wish Foundation International brightens lives with magical moments

She might not have real wings or a sparkling magic wand, but for all intents and purposes Linda Dozoretz is the fairy godmother. As the woman behind Children’s Wish Foundation International, she has helped turn dreams into realities for thousands of kids around the world.

That includes Genevieve, who celebrated her sweet 16th birthday on the sunny shores of Hawaii, swimming with dolphins and snorkeling in the crystal Pacific sea. And it includes 4-year-old Renee from the Philippines, who got to play princess for a day at Disney World, joined by her favorite character, Belle, and a cast of fantastical friends.

It includes Christopher, 8, who got hooked up with his very own game room, complete with an air hockey table, video game system, skee ball and computer. And it includes 9-year-old Timmy who just wished for a birthday card.

“It’s all about the children,” said Dozoretz, whose unofficial “fairy godmother” mascot is relegated to a side table of miscellany in her working office on Roswell Road in Atlanta, the international headquarters – and only location – of the nonprofit organization. “We’re run by a small staff to minimize operating costs,” she said. “Everything we do is conducted from here.”

Executive director of CWFI, Dozoretz established the foundation in 1985, seven years after losing her teenage daughter Susan to bone cancer. Though the organization’s outreach has grown exponentially, thanks to the support of volunteers and contributors, its mission remains the same: “to fulfill the favorite wish of any child facing a devastating life-threatening illness and to give that child a magical and unforgettable experience of a lifetime.”

CWFI’s wish coordinators see to that. Whether a child wants a theme party at home or an exotic trip overseas, the Wish Team creates an individual itinerary, making all of the necessary arrangements and tossing in plenty of surprises along the way.

Travel plans are mapped around medical schedules in a time-sensitive manner. Expenses are covered in full, from transportation and accommodations to meals and admission fees, for both the child and his immediate family. “By making the entire family part of the experience, everyone gets to share in the happy memories,” Dozoretz said.

Many of these precious moments are proudly displayed on CWFI’s “walls of wishes.” The halls are literally decked with hundreds of framed photos of kids enjoying their dream come true. Some are pictured with a famous face, be it Mickey Mouse, an Atlanta Braves ballplayer or a Hollywood superstar. Others are shown frolicking on the beach, exploring a theme park, or clowning around at the circus.

Still others are tickled pink with the simplest of pleasures, like going fishing or riding a horse. And then there are those overjoyed with an incredible toy – go-karts and electronic gadgets to jungle gyms and big-screened TVs. “Each wish is as unique as the child who makes the request,” she said.

Though Dozoretz claims to have lost track of the particular details of each wish granted over CWFI’s two decades of “celebrating smiles,” she can certainly recall lots of them, from a recipient who got to sit in a space shuttle to another who got to sing onstage with a favorite rock band.

She can also tick off a long list of celebrities who have participated in the program, including Tom Cruise, Celine Dion, Helen Hunt, Garth Brooks, John Travolta, Cindy Crawford, David Letterman, Dolly Parton, Richard Gere and Ellen DeGeneres – to name a few.

While the multitude of wishes granted over the Foundation’s history is impressive, the actual stats seem to be of little relevance to the organization. “We’re not about the numbers, we’re about the quality of the wish for each individual child. That’s one of our hallmarks,” said Brenda Webber, CWFI’s director of communications and public relations.

Indeed, CWFI always goes the extra mile for its wish families, staging “bonus” activities to make a wish experience even more spectacular. Julie, for instance, wanted to visit New York City, see “CATS,” and shop at Bloomingdales. After being welcomed to the Big Apple with a personalized Spectravision sign in Times Square, this small-town gal was presented a key to the city by then Mayor Ed Koch. She didn’t just see “CATS,” she met the cast, too. And, in addition to her shopping spree at Bloomingdales, Julie cohosted a segment on “MTV” and appeared on “Good Morning America” with Alan Alda.

Once a wish is granted, families are not forgotten. CWFI delivers a bundle of year-round fun. Its Hospital Enrichment Program entertains pediatric patients across the country with shipments of party supplies, books, games, DVDs, and arts and crafts.

The Family Focus Program doles out tickets to movies, concerts and sporting events, as well as complimentary dining passes, for families to enjoy a nice time out. “It’s a welcome break for them after spending so much time at the hospital,” Webber said.

There’s also a Holiday Gifts Program to make the season brighter for terminally ill children, their siblings and their parents, whose time and resources are often depleted by caregiving responsibilities and high medical bills.

On this particular day, with the countdown to Christmas in full swing, Children’s Wish Foundation could easily have been mistaken for Santa’s workshop. Big boxes filled with ribbon, wrapping paper and “wish list” presents lined the hallways. The sprawling conference table (a donation, like most of the other furnishings on the premises) was heaped with toys.

Moms were dropping off bags of merchandise collected from area toy drives. And a troop of jolly elves from McGinnis Woods Country Day School stopped by with a load of teddy bears from the Build-A-Bear store in Alpharetta.

“This is something the kids really learn from,” said Joshua Reiter, one of the teachers chaperoning the first grade students. “They realize how good they have it and how they can help people less fortunate.”

“There are so many ways to get involved,” Webber said. That includes its spring “Enchanted Forest” benefit, a fall golf tournament and fundraiser and a 5K Run in December. Volunteers, as well as donations from companies and individuals, are always welcome.